Event focuses on creating manufacturing, technology jobs

A daylong event at the Eastman Business Park that focused on bringing manufacturing jobs to the region drew hundreds Wednesday.

The event, called "Making It Work in America: Manufacturing Next-Generation Tech in the U.S.-Accelerating Advanced Manufacturing and American Innovation," was geared toward manufacturing leaders and technology partners, as well as investors, members of academia and government leaders.

The event focused on how ideas can become commercial realities—using existing infrastructure and workforce talent to create manufacturing jobs in Rochester and the United States.
Those speaking said there is a need to move research into the marketplace in an effort to create jobs and spur economic growth.

“In the past, the mindset was often ‘a good idea is good enough,’” said Matt Fronk, acting director of NY Best Commercialization Center. “That is no longer good enough.”

At the summit, Eastman Kodak Co. and Innovation Accelerator, a national public-private entity, announced an agreement under which Innovation Accelerator will step into an active leadership role of the Innovation and Materials Science Institute, Kodak’s technology accelerator established to help move early- to middle-stage companies from innovation to commercialization.

Innovation Accelerator’s goal is to drive America’s competitive advantage in the global marketplace by promoting innovation as an economic growth engine. John Pyrovolakis, founder and CEO, said that he and his team work with hundreds of entrepreneurial startup companies across the country and many could benefit from the infrastructure Eastman Business Park provides.

In addition to the speakers, several companies showcased new products, ranging from one that produces a material that darkens windows and skylights on command to one that uses green chemistry to create next generation flexible electronics.